Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. Guides

How to play Xbox Game Pass on Fire TV

By
amazon fire tv xbox app announcement
Amazon

Xbox has been attempting to break down as many walls as possible between players and games. Game Pass has been its flagship service , providing easy access to games on as many platforms as possible. That now includes Fire TVs and certain Fire TV sticks. This new integration completely removes the need for people to purchase an expensive console to play hundreds of amazing games through Game Pass, but it isn't completely pick-up-and-play quite yet. There are a few simple steps you need to take, but we'll make sure you can start playing ASAP, no console required.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

10 minutes

What You Need

  • Fire TV

  • Fire TV Stick 4K Max or Fire TV Stick 4K

  • Bluetooth controller

  • Game Pass Ultimate

Xbox Cloud Gaming's submenu in Xbox Game Pass.
Microsoft

How to play Xbox games on your Fire TV

There are three main things you need before you can start gaming on your Fire TV.

The first is, of course, a Fire TV or either a Fire TV Stick 4K Max or Fire TV Stick 4K.

Second, you will need any Bluetooth-enabled controller to connect and play. This can be anything from an Xbox controller to even a DualSense.

Finally, you will need a Game Pass Ultimate membership. This is the most expensive tier of Game Pass, but the only one that offers cloud gaming, which is how you will be accessing games. You can use your existing subscription if you have one, or you can subscribe within the Xbox app once you download it.

Step 1: Turn on your TV and go to the Amazon App Store.

Step 2: Search for and download the Xbox app.

Step 3: Once downloaded, sign in with your existing Microsoft account or create a new one.

If you have an account you are subscribed to Game Pass with, use this one. If not, you can subscribe within the app.

Step 4: Connect a Bluetooth controller to your Fire TV by going to Settings->Bluetooth Game Controllers->Add Bluetooth Controllers while your controller is on.

Step 5: When the TV detects your controller, select it from the list to pair it.

Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K Max and Luna Controller, on a white background.
Amazon

Step 6: Browse the Xbox Game Pass library for any game that has cloud streaming available and start playing!

Note that because you are playing games over the cloud and not downloading games, the visual quality and amount of lag you experience will be dependent on your internet connection speeds and strength.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Jesse Lennox
Jesse Lennox
Jesse Lennox loves writing, games, and complaining about not having time to write and play games. He knows the names of more…
This Xbox Game Pass Ultimate deal shaves a few bucks off a membership
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate logo.

Building a library of games is one of the slowest, most methodical, and often most expensive part of a gamer's journey. $40, $50, and $60 console releases all add up over the years for console gamers. That's why game passes are so great, you get big variety in games but only have to pay monthly. This is especially true if you aren't a completionist and prefer to dip your toes into a new game ever few days. In any event, that's why we're so happy to see this Xbox Game Pass Ultimate deal, which brings one month of the service down to $15 from $17, a savings of about 12%. Just tap the button below to grab the deal and start playing (it's a code, so there's no delivery time, you can play as soon as you finish finding your game of choice). Alternatively, keep reading to see more about the deal and see more about why we like Xbox Game Pass Ultimate so much.

Why you should try Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has hundreds of games to choose from, includes some new games on day one, and gives you access to EA Play. Even hit titles like Starfield were released day one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, so you never know what big title might pop up next. You can play the games on your Xbox console or PC, and the games have cloud gaming access. That means that while one of the best gaming laptops might still be the ideal remote gaming setup, it isn't required.

Read more
Is Xbox Game Pass really worth it anymore?
Games on Xbox Game Pass.

Xbox Game Pass is changing. On Tuesday night, Microsoft quietly announced that it was retooling its game subscription service. The change would bring new tiers, including one that doesn't feature "day one" releases, and a price hike to the Ultimate tier. Naturally, fans didn't take the news well. The decision has already been dissected by players who theorize that the end of Xbox's subscription service is nigh -- or at least that it's turning into a bum deal.

Are players overreacting over a couple of dollars or is there legitimacy to the doomsaying? It's likely a bit of both, but there's no doubt that Xbox Game Pass' value wanes with the new change. The question is whether or not it's still a good deal even if it's a pricier one. That's where things get complicated. What used to be a no-brainer for all Xbox players now feels like its geared toward a narrower audience. And I know for sure that I'm not the target anymore.
Is Xbox Game Pass worth it?
Let's recap what exactly is changing on Xbox's service. For starters, Xbox Game Pass for Console is going away for new subscribers. That will more or less be replaced by Xbox Game Pass Standard, a new tier that is missing one key perk: It will not feature "day one" games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Each remaining tier is getting a price hike. Xbox Game Pass PC will go from $10 to $12 per month, while Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will jump from $17 to $20 per month. Those are the tiers players will need to subscribe to in order to get "day one" games.

Read more
This is the cheapest way to play Xbox Game Pass, but there’s a catch
A woman holding a remote while looking at an Amazon Fire TV with the Xbox app on it. It's on the Cloud Gaming menu with Fallout 76, Senua's Saga Hellblade 2 and more on it.

It was only a few weeks ago when I gave cloud gaming an earnest shot. For a full week, I resolved to replace my Xbox with a Samsung smart TV equipped with Xbox Game Pass. I'd only stream my Xbox games through the cloud during the time, even playing the entirety of Still Wakes the Deep that way. It went much better than expected. Sure, the image quality wasn't tip-top, but it ran smoothly enough that I could picture integrating a Game Pass-enabled smart TV in a home setup with multiple TVs.

That experiment just so happened to line up with another significant push in Xbox's platform expansion. Game Pass is now available on select Amazon Fire TV streaming sticks. That means you don't need a console or even a specific smart TV to enjoy Game Pass on a big screen; all you need is a very portable and relatively inexpensive stick.

Read more